Diana Lu
PlanPhilly
Philadelphia, PA, United States
Contact Diana
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Past articles by Diana:
Rebel Ventures pitch youth-powered corner store at Full City Challenge
Jarrett Stein kept apologizing to the crowd for his public speaking. On a cold rainy Tuesday morning, the Rebel Ventures co-executive director told a… → Read More
We want your questions. Help drive our reporting on economic justice in Philly
PlanPhilly is teaming up with 21 other local news organizations to dive deeper into your questions, ideas, and tips surrounding poverty and economic justice… → Read More
A familiar Philly development dilemma hits Mount Airy
“The ritzier sections of Chestnut Hill and Mount Airy look pretty much the way they did 50 years ago...until now,” writes the Philadelphia Inquirer's… → Read More
Philly tops other U.S. big cities on food access and walkability
Philly is more walkable and has more access to healthy food than other large American cities yet it still struggles with higher rates of violence and chronic school absence than peer cities, according to the latest City Health Dashboard, a joint initiative by NYU’s Schools of Medicine and Public Service, the National Resource Network, ICMA and the National League of Cities. The dashboard tracked… → Read More
Kensington’s luxury townhouse kings experimenting with lower priced condos
The very busy River Wards developer responsible for a large portion of those luxury townhomes you see popping up across Kensington and Port Richmond is at work on a new South Kensington project, reports Sandy Smith for Philly Mag. Developer Riverwards Group recently filed zoning permit requests to build a 146-unit mixed-use residential-commercial project between Germantown Avenue and Fifth… → Read More
Cyclist killed while riding on Spring Garden bike lane
An SUV knocked over and fatally ran over 34-year-old Pablo Avendano on Saturday evening, the Philadelphia Inquirer’s Chris Palmer reports. Authorities said that Avendano,… → Read More
Be PlanPhilly's Eyes on the Street at Night Market Burholme!
How does it work, you ask? It’s simple. Come find PlanPhilly at the corner of Rising Sun and Princeton Avenues during the Night Market and talk to us. To activate the booth, simply step on the conveniently placed foot pedal and speak clearly into the mic. The listening booth will record your musings, stories, and impressions. WHYY staff will be there to guide you through the process. Plus, we… → Read More
Rail Park announces June 14 opening, new executive director
The potentially transformative development built on the bones of Philadelphia’s rail heritage began as an idea championed by volunteers who lived in the shadows of the derelict former Reading Railroad viaduct. On Thursday, that group of volunteers, Friends of the Rail Park, announced their first executive director, Kevin Dow. The lifelong Philadelphian most recently served as Senior Vice… → Read More
Domb: City must step up collections on out-of-town tax delinquents
Before we ask Philadelphia residents to pay more in taxes and fees, let's collect from delinquent property owners who are shirking their bills from out of town, argued Councilman Allan Domb at a council meeting on Tuesday, WHYY News’ Tom MacDonald reports. “There’s still about $215 million of nonowner-occupied delinquency,” Domb said. “These are people that are not using [ the property] as their… → Read More
Northeast Philly kosher bakery returns to its roots in South Philly
“If you see knishes anywhere in Philadelphia, they’re made by us.” After more than four decades in Northeast Philly, the beloved Lipkin's Bakery returns… → Read More
A neighborhood walk that's healthy for you — and the city, too.
Couple gifts $140,000 to save neighbor’s home and community hub in Sharswood Real estate power couple Greg and Danielle Parker shelled out $140,000 to save a community hub in Sharswood, Billy Penn’s Michaela Winberg reports. It was a gift, Parker told Winberg, explaining the significance of the house on the corner of 26th and Master streets: Greg Bullock, a longtime resident, lost his son to gun… → Read More
‘Schooled’ back in session in East Germantown
Across Philadelphia, charter schools have been a force of change in neighborhoods, providing opportunities for some families, alienating others and all the while, bringing… → Read More
What happened when Pokémon went to the library?
Can Pokémon Go, a game that encourages people to run around town with their eyes glued to their screens actually encourage civic participation? Well,… → Read More
Philly fails the smog test
The American Lung Association (ALA)’s annual State of the Air report gave the Philadelphia metro area an F for ozone pollution, Philly Mag reports. “For ozone, with the sole exception of Atlantic County, N.J., all monitored counties in the Philadelphia metro area posted worse results than in last year’s report,” the ALA says. The report surveyed 227 metropolitan areas; Philly ranked 12th for… → Read More
10 Philly neighborhoods reap the lion's share of construction tax break benefits
Ten neighborhoods concentrated around Center City make up 59 percent of the properties receiving Philadelphia' controversial 10-year tax abatement, according to a report released… → Read More
Another apartment building on the way to West Philly's Baltimore Avenue
The Cedar Park Neighbors zoning committee will review a revised proposal for a four-story, five-unit apartment building at 4829 Baltimore Avenue Tuesday, West Philly… → Read More
Fixing Philly's flood-prone sewers and pipes will cost home and business owners
Are your feet still drying out from a morning trudge through curbside pools of rainwater? Well, Philadelphia Water Department has a plan to stop street flooding and improve the city's water infrastructure but it depends on you. Or more accurately, your wallet. The agency has proposed an 11 percent rate increase over the next three years in an attempt to cover increasing operating costs,… → Read More
Tribute to the automat on 11th wins preservation award
Imagine sitting in a charming restaurant on 11th Street, with hip mid-century modern tables and chairs, eating food that you can order with technology.… → Read More
Open for business in Old City: Philadelphia Design District
Friday the 13th: The Philadelphia Design District celebrates its official debut in style, with a launch party and curated exhibit featuring products from members… → Read More
Former Philly CIO says he was fired over “whistleblower” objections to City Hall’s “racial-hiring” preferences, business practices
Philadelphia’s freshly ousted chief information officer Charlie Brennan is suing Mayor Jim Kenney and other high ranking officials claiming that he was fired for… → Read More